Bang!
The noise came from the other end of the hallway, the end swollen by shadows. It sounded like the wind lashing branches against the house. Still, my heart rate increased.
I crept past a bedroom to the left. It was Monique’s; she’d still be out, but even if she wasn’t, there was no way I was calling out to her. I’d never live it down. I swallowed.
Bang, bang, bang!
The sound grew sharper and more erratic, as if it had heard me coming and wanted to scare me. But that was a stupid thought. It was getting louder because I was getting closer and the wind must have increased. I paused and debated whether to turn back and get my blade. I didn’t trust the dark.
I kept walking until the shadows closed in all around me. I passed Georgie’s room and a few empty bedrooms. The noise was coming from Michael’s room, at the very end of the hall. The draft blew through a tiny crack in the door, sweeping across my body. I reached out a hand and hesitated. What if he was there? What if he was entertaining someone and that was the cause of the banging and I just waltzed in on their amorous arrangement? I’d die of embarrassment.
I pulled my hand back. The noise stopped as if he’d heard me.
“Michael,” I whispered, my cheeks burning with heat. “Is that you?”
I cringed and waited for him to tell me to go away, but there was only the sound of the wind wailing through the trees.
He’d answer if he was in there. Unless he was too busy doing other things …
“Michael,” I said, louder this time.
Nothing.
Heart in my throat, pulse firing through my veins, I pushed on the door. It pushed back as if something fought against my intrusion.
It was just the wind. It was just the wind, I repeated in my head like a prayer.
I pushed a little harder and the door slipped open. I peered in, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The bed was neatly made. Michael wasn’t there. Suddenly there was silence; not a whisper of wind could be heard. The dragon pausing before the fire.
Bang!
The sharp sound shot fear through my body. I jumped, then noticed the balcony window had been left open. The wind had picked up and slammed it against the frame.
“You fucking idiot, Amy.” I huffed a laugh at my stupidity, my entire body relaxing as I crossed the room, pulled it closed, and clicked the latch into place. Then scurried out, pulling the door shut behind me.
Wide awake now, I headed down the stairs. I heard something clattering from the basement. Someone was up, maybe one of the vampires having a drink. Better from a blood bag than a vein, though I thought all vampires preferred it fresh, straight from the source. Of course they’d have to be in the fucking basement. There was no way in hell I was checking to see who it was.
The stairs creaked as my foot hit the third bottom step, sending my heart racing again.Calm the fuck down, Amy.
Another sound, this time glass clanking, followed by scratching. I shuddered all over as deep-rooted fear took hold of my spine. It sounded like it was coming from the ballroom. I should call out to one of the vampires patrolling outside—they’d come running—but I risked waking up the kids. Besides, it was probably something to do with the wind scratching against the house, and I’d feel like a fool.
My breath burned through my lips as I walked toward the ballroom, ready to prove to myself it was empty, just like upstairs.
Or maybe I would find Karson, Monique, or Michael behind those doors seated at the bar drinking. I took a deep breath and in slow motion pushed it open. The room was bathed in darkness, but standing in front of the bar was the silhouette of a female, dressed head to toe in black, wearing her hood over her head. Monique.
“Monique,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Where’s Karson?”
Monique turned. No, not Monique. Her skin was pale.
Then she lifted her chin and hissed an angry, shrill sound.
Sarah.
My blood ran cold. She launched at whistling speed toward me. I took a shaking step back as my hands jerked up without thought and my powers exploded in a hot rush from my fingers. Her black cloak flapped as her body flew backwards and slammed against a brick piling. The light from the moon bled through a window and highlighted her face. Her skin was china white and flawless. But fury twisted her face into something demonic.
The vampire wasn’t Sarah?—
It was Leah.
